Medical table clamp and accessory including same

ABSTRACT

A clamp assembly for a medical table accessory includes a base including: (i) a rail-receiving channel block defining a rail-receiving channel adapted to receive and releasably retain an associated medical table accessory rail; and, (ii) a plunger assembly mount that includes a mounting wall. The plunger assembly is mounted to the mounting wall. The plunger assembly includes a plunger that moves in the aligned plunger holes relative to the base in a straight-line reciprocal manner between a retracted position and an extended position. The plunger includes a working end that extends into the rail-receiving channel when said plunger is located in its extended position to abut an associated medical table accessory rail located in the rail-receiving channel and capture the associated medical table accessory rail between the plunger working end and the front hook to prevent disengagement of the base from the associated medical table accessory rail when the plunger is in its extended position. The plunger assembly further includes a handle operatively connected to the plunger by a linkage, wherein the handle moves pivotably from a disengaged position to an engaged position. The plunger moves to its extended position when the handle is moved to its engaged position, and the plunger moves to its retracted position when the handle moves to its disengaged position. A medical table accessory such as an extension table is connected to the base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and benefit of the filing date ofU.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/726,824 filed Oct. 14, 2005(Oct. 14, 2005), and said provisional application is hereby incorporatedby reference into the present specification.

BACKGROUND

It is known in the art to employ clamps that attach onto the sides ofmedical/surgical tables in order to support accessories such as tableextensions or auxiliary equipment. However, attaching these clamps oftenproves to be a difficult task. As is known in the art, medical tableshave a standard rectangular accessory rail whereby accessories can beattached onto the table by being clamped to the accessory rail. Priorattempts to clamp accessories onto medical tables using the accessoryrail have included utilizing a clamp assembly including a knob or barthat must be repeatedly turned or rotated (often from an inconvenientangle) in order to securely attach the clamp to the accessory rail byadvancement of a threaded fastener. Another known clamp assemblyrequires alignment of components and subsequent insertion of pins intoaligned apertures. These prior arrangements have been deemed sub-optimalfor attaching (and detaching) medical accessories to a surgical table,due to the time and inconvenience required to engage/disengage the clampassembly and for other reasons.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a clamp assemblyfor a medical table accessory includes a base including: (i) arail-receiving channel block defining a rail-receiving channel adaptedto receive and releasably retain an associated medical table accessoryrail; and, (ii) a plunger assembly mount that includes a mounting wallspaced from the rear wall of the rail-receiving channel. The rear walland the mounting wall define respective first and second aligned plungerholes. The plunger assembly is mounted to the mounting wall of theplunger assembly mount. The plunger assembly includes a plunger thatmoves in the aligned plunger holes relative to the base in astraight-line reciprocal manner between a retracted position and anextended position. The plunger includes a working end that abuts anassociated medical table accessory rail located in the rail-receivingchannel and captures the associated medical table accessory rail betweenthe plunger working end and the front hook to prevent disengagement ofthe base from the associated medical table accessory rail when theplunger is in its extended position. The plunger assembly furtherincludes a handle operatively connected to the plunger by a linkage,wherein the handle is adapted to move pivotably from a disengagedposition to an engaged position. The plunger moves to its extendedposition when the handle is moved to its engaged position, and theplunger moves to its retracted position when the handle moves to itsdisengaged position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present development comprises various components and arrangements ofcomponents, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a medical table extension including two medicaltable clamps formed in accordance with the present invention, with eachof the clamps engaged with a standard medical table accessory rail ofthe medical table in accordance with the present development;

FIG. 1A is sectional view as taken along line 1A-1A of FIG. 1 showing across-section of the accessory rail;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view of one of the medical table clamps ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view as taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the accessory rail of FIG. 1A and shows one of the clampsof the table extension of FIG. 1 partially installed thereon;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing a fullyinstalled and engaged medical table clamp;

FIGS. 6-8 are additional views of a medical table clamp formed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 9-12 are additional views of a DE-STA-CO model 602 clamp thatforms a part of the medical table clamp embodiment disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows two medical table clamps 10 being used in a samplepractical application to attach a medical accessory 16, such as asurgical table extension for a patient's arm, to a medical table 12 inaccordance with the present development. As shown in FIG. 1, a medicaltable 12 comprises an accessory rail 14 on both sides of the table 12.As it is known in the art and shown in FIG. 1A, these rails 14 are of auniversal nature in size and rectangular shape, and the medical tableclamp(s) 10 of the present development are correspondingly dimensionedand conformed to be releasably and fixedly secured to the rail 14. Amedical accessory, such as the extension table 16, is attached to themedical table rail 14 with one or more clamps 10, e.g., two clamps 10 asshown herein.

FIGS. 4-8 illustrate the main components of each medical table clamp 10.The outer/upper clamp portion 20, also referred to as a plunger assembly20, comprises: two handle brackets 22, a handle grip 24, two linkagebrackets 26, a handle base 28, plunger 30, adjustable plunger end 32, astopper bar 34, and a mounting nut 36. The handle grip 24 covers a firstend of each of the handle brackets 22.

Each handle bracket 22 is L-shaped and rotatably attached, with afastener such as a rivet R1, R2, to a first end 26 a of a respectivelinkage bracket 26 at the elbow 22 a of its L-shape structure. Oppositethe first end of each linkage bracket 26 is a second end 26 b which isrotatably attached, with a fastener such as a pin P1, to the handle base28. The linkage brackets 26 are parallel and spaced-apart, andapproximately midway between the first and second ends 26 a, 26 b of thelinkage brackets 26 the stopper bar 34 extends between and interconnectsthe two linkage brackets 26. The stopper bar 34 prevents the handlebrackets 22 from being able to over rotate when the operator engages ordisengages the table clamp 10. The inner end 22 b of each L-shapedhandle bracket 22 is rotatably attached, with a fastener such as a rivetR3, at a first end 30 a of the plunger 30. This linkage arrangementresults in reciprocal straight-line translation of the plunger 30 (seearrow P in FIGS. 4 and 5) in response to pivoting movement of the handlegrip 24 and handle brackets 22 relative to ends 26 a of the linkagebrackets 26 (see arrow H in FIGS. 2 and 6). This reciprocal movement ofthe plunger in response to movement of the handle grip 24 can be seenalso by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5, where the plunger 30 isretracted/disengaged in FIG. 4 and extended/engaged in FIG. 5. Thegeometry of the plunger assembly 20, including the handle brackets 22,linkage brackets 26, plunger 30, and handle base 28, is such that theplunger 30 is held in its extended/engaged position (FIGS. 5-8) whenhandle 24 is pivoted fully to its engaged position, i.e., the handle 24and brackets 22 move over-center, so that axial disengaging forceexerted on the plunger 30 cannot move the plunger from its engagedposition to its disengaged position, absent manual movement of thehandle 24 from its engaged position (FIGS. 5-8), where the handlebrackets 22 lie parallel to the rail-receiving channel RC, to itsdisengaged position, where the handle brackets 22 are pivoted away fromthe engaged position.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the plunger assembly 20,which can be provided by a DE-STA-CO model 602 clamp or otherstraight-line plunger clamp, is fixedly secured to a base 40 of theclamp assembly 10. The base 40 comprises two main portions: (i) arail-receiving channel block 40 a; and, (ii) a plunger assembly mount 40b. The base 40 can be molded or extruded from Aluminum or a polymericmaterial as a one-piece construction and/or can be machined and/orfabricated from one or more pieces. As shown herein, the rail-receivingchannel block 40 a is machined and/or extruded and/or molded and/orfabricated to have the profile shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the plungerassembly mount 40 b, which can be formed in any suitable manner asdescribed for the rail-receiving channel block 40 a, is secured theretoby fasteners 42.

With particular reference now to the rail-receiving channel block 40 a,as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 8, it is conformed and dimensioned to bereleasably engaged with a standard accessory rail 14 of a medical table12. To that end, the rail-receiving channel block 40 a comprises anupper horizontally extending wall 44 a that projects outwardly from avertically extending rear wall 44 b. A lower wall 44 c projectshorizontally outward from the rear wall 44 b and is vertically spacedfrom the upper wall 44 a. A front hook 44 d projects downwardly from theouter end of the upper wall 44 a, i.e., generally toward the lower wall44 c, although the lower wall 44 c is not vertically aligned with thefront hook 44 d owing to the reduced length of the lower wall 44 crelative to the upper wall 44 a. Also, the lower wall 44 c defines steps44 e, 44 f. As such, rail-receiving channel block 40 a defines an openrail-receiving channel RC.

The plunger assembly mount 40 b includes a mounting wall 44 g that isspaced from and preferably parallel to the rear wall 44 b of therail-receiving channel block 40 a so that an open space or channel 44 his defined therebetween. The walls 44 b, 44 g define respective firstand second plunger apertures h1, h2 that are aligned with each other toaccommodate the plunger 30.

The plunger assembly 20 is mounted to the base 40, e.g., by a nut 36located in channel 44 h and that engages the handle base 28 of theplunger assembly 20 to capture the wall 44 g therebetween. In oneembodiment, as illustrated herein, the plunger assembly 20 comprises aDE-STA-CO model 602 clamp, but it is to be understood that any othersimilar type clamp may be used and the present development is not to belimited to same. The working or inner end 30 b of the plunger 30 has aninternal thread which allows for the length of the plunger 30 to beadjusted by threaded advancement or retraction of a head 32, whichallows for the precise length of the plunger 30 to be determined inorder to provide an unyielding fit onto every table rail 14. In otherwords, the length of the plunger 30 is adjustable based on the lengthnecessary for clamping.

One or more clamp assemblies 10 are secured to an extension table orother accessory 16 by fasteners F that extend through the accessory 16and into the clamp base 40, or the accessory 16 is otherwise fixedlysecured to the base 40.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the process of attaching the medical tableclamp assembly 10 to the table rail 14 so that the associated extensiontable 16 or other accessory can be fixedly but releasably secured to therail 14. The plunger holes h1,h2 in the clamp 40 allows for the plunger30 to extend back and forth (see arrow P) in a reciprocal fashionthrough the clamp base 40 in order to clamp onto the associated tablerail 14. In order to engage the plunger 30 onto the table rail 14, theoperator must pivot the clamp handle 24 from its disengaged position(FIG. 4) to its engaged position (FIG. 5) to extend plunger 30 throughthe holes h1,h2 until the clamp handle 24 is in its engaged position.When handle 24 is moved in the opposite direction 180 degrees, theplunger 30 fully retracts. When the handle 24 is in a perpendicularposition to walls 44 b and 44 g of the clamp base 40, the adjustable end32 of the plunger 30 is approximately flush with rear wall 44 b of theclamp base 40.

When the medical table clamp 10 is securely attached to the table rail14, as illustrated by FIG. 5, the rail 14 will fit snuggly against steps44 e and 44 f and also against wall 44 a and front hook 44 d of theclamp base 40 a, but is spaced from the rear wall 44 b to define an openchannel 44 h, which is important to allow for some movement of theplunger 30 between the wall 44 b and the rail 14 which is required forthe handle 24 to be able to move over-center as described, and to allowthe adjustable plunger end 32 to be easily adjusted. The front hook 44 dpreferably includes an outwardly facing chamfer 44 dc (i.e., facing awayfrom the rail-receiving channel RC) to allow for ease of use whensliding the clamp 10 onto or off of the table rail 14, i.e., to preventthe hook 44 d from catching on the rail 14 during installation orremoval of the clamp assembly 10 relative to rail 14.

When the table rail 14 is fully received in the rail channel RC andplunger 30 is fully extended as shown in FIG. 5, the table rail 14 isfirmly and immovably captured in rail channel RC, so that an extensiontable or other accessory 16 connected to the clamp assembly 10 isfixedly secured to the table rail 14. FIG. 3 shows an alternative viewof the medical table clamp 10 when looking at a side of the medicaltable 12 demonstrating when the clamps 10 are engaged and attaching amedical accessory 16 to the table rail 14.

FIGS. 6-8 are additional top, front and side views of the medical tableclamp assembly 10 formed in accordance with the present development.FIGS. 9-12 are views of the DE-STA-CO model 602 clamp by itself, which,in the illustrated embodiment, forms the plunger assembly 20.

The present development has been described with reference to preferredembodiments. Modifications and alterations will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art after reading this specification, and it isintended that the claims be construed literally and/or according to thedoctrine of equivalents to the fullest possible extent to encompass allsuch modifications and alterations.

1. A clamp assembly for a medical table accessory, said clamp assemblycomprising: a base comprising: (i) a rail-receiving channel blockdefining a rail-receiving channel adapted to receive and releasablyretain an associated medical table accessory rail; and, (ii) a plungerassembly mount that comprises a mounting wall spaced from said rear wallof said rail-receiving channel, said rear wall and said mounting walldefining respective first and second aligned plunger holes; a plungerassembly mounted to the mounting wall of said plunger assembly mount,said plunger assembly comprising a plunger that moves in said alignedplunger holes relative to said base in a straight-line reciprocal mannerbetween a retracted position and an extended position, said plungercomprising a working end that abuts an associated medical tableaccessory rail located in said rail-receiving channel and captures theassociated medical table accessory rail between said plunger working endand said front hook to prevent disengagement of said base from theassociated medical table accessory rail when said plunger is in itsextended position; said plunger assembly further comprising a handleoperatively connected to said plunger by a linkage, wherein said handleis adapted to move pivotably from a disengaged position to an engagedposition, wherein said plunger moves to its extended position when saidhandle is moved to its engaged position, and wherein said plunger movesto its retracted position when said handle moves to its disengagedposition.
 2. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidrail-receiving channel block of said base comprises: a rear wall; anupper wall that projects outwardly from the rear wall; a lower wall thatprojects from the rear wall at a location vertically spaced from theupper wall; and, a front hook that projects downwardly from the upperwall.
 3. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 2, further comprisinga medical table accessory connected to said base.
 4. The clamp assemblyas set forth in claim 3, wherein said medical table accessory comprisesan extension table accessory connected to said base by at least onefastener.
 5. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein saidlower wall of said rail-receiving channel block comprises a steppedsurface, wherein said rail-receiving channel is defined between saidstepped surface and said front hook projecting downwardly from saidupper wall, such that when an associated medical table accessory rail islocated in said rail-receiving channel, the associated medical tableaccessory rail is spaced from said rear wall of said rail-receivingchannel block.
 6. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 5, whereinsaid working end of said plunger is adjustable to lengthen or shortensaid plunger.
 7. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 6, whereinsaid front hook includes a chamfer oriented outwardly away from saidrail-receiving channel to facilitate mounting and dismounting said baserelative to an associated medical table accessory rail.
 8. The clampassembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein said plunger assembly issecured to said plunger assembly mount of said base by a nut that issecured to said plunger assembly and that captures said mounting wall ofsaid plunger assembly mount.
 9. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim8, wherein said base is a multi-piece construction, wherein said plungerassembly mount is connected to said rail-receiving channel block by atleast one fastener.
 10. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 9,wherein said linkage by which said handle is operatively connected tosaid plunger moves to an over-center position when said handle is movedto said engaged position to move said plunger to said extended position,such that when said plunger is in said extended position and said handleis in said engaged position, said plunger is prevented from moving fromsaid extended position to said retracted position in response to axialforce exerted on said working end of said plunger.
 11. The clampassembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said medical table accessorycomprises an extension table accessory connected to said base by atleast one fastener.
 12. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 11,wherein said lower wall of said rail-receiving channel block comprises astepped surface, wherein said rail-receiving channel is defined betweensaid stepped surface and said front hook projecting downwardly from saidupper wall, such that when an associated medical table accessory rail islocated in said rail-receiving channel, the associated medical tableaccessory rail is spaced from said rear wall of said rail-receivingchannel block.
 13. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 12, whereinsaid working end of said plunger is adjustable to lengthen or shortensaid plunger.
 14. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 13, whereinsaid front hook includes a chamfer oriented outwardly away from saidrail-receiving channel to facilitate mounting and dismounting said baserelative to an associated medical table accessory rail.
 15. The clampassembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said plunger assembly issecured to said plunger assembly mount of said base by a nut that issecured to said plunger assembly and that captures said mounting wall ofsaid plunger assembly mount.
 16. The clamp assembly as set forth inclaim 15, wherein said base is a multi-piece construction, wherein saidplunger assembly mount is connected to said rail-receiving channel blockby at least one fastener.
 17. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim16, wherein said linkage by which said handle is operatively connectedto said plunger moves to an over-center position when said handle ismoved to said engaged position to move said plunger to said extendedposition, such that when said plunger is in said extended position andsaid handle is in said engaged position, said plunger is prevented frommoving from said extended position to said retracted position inresponse to axial force exerted on said working end of said plunger.